Ex-FÁS chief faces grilling on lavish expenses

Former FÁS chief Rody Molloy is to appear before the Dáil Public Accounts Committee (PAC) today to answer questions about lavish expenses clocked up by top executives at the beleaguered state agency.

Pac chairman Bernard Allen said the embattled former boss confirmed he would be attending the inquiry, which is probing spending irregularities at the employment and training body.

Molloy was forced to resign last week after revelations that FÁS officials spent €643,000 over four years on transatlantic travel.

Mr Allen last week launched a stinging attack on the ex-boss for failing to appear before the inquiry, claiming it was unacceptable for highly paid public servants to think they could “ride away into the sunset”.

“Basically we were coming from the situation in the committee that we were quite frustrated that two days prior to the meeting he decided to resign,” Mr Allen said.

“We were frustrated in that we thought he should have stayed around until we had an opportunity to talk with him.”

Mr Molloy is expected to be grilled by TDs about aspects of the FÁS €1bn-a-year budget, travel and expenses and controls exercised over the corporate affairs division of the body.

He will be accompanied by FÁS chairman Peter McLoone and assistant director Christy Cooney.